General election affects hotel accupancy rates<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Next month's general election, for which
\ncampaign activities will start tomorrow, has affected hotel
\noccupancy rates in Jakarta, a hotel industry senior executive
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Orders for hotel reservations through the Jakarta branch of
\nIndonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association have now declined to
\n40 percent of last year's monthly average of about 3,000 guests,\"
\nsaid Kenny Rosanti, a senior staff member of the branch.<\/p>\n
The general election will be on May 29. The campaign will be
\nfrom April 27 to May 23 and the cool-off period from May 24 to
\nMay 28.<\/p>\n
To guarantee the security of election activities, the
\ngovernment will ban public gatherings beginning a week before the
\ncampaign period starts until a week after the election.<\/p>\n
Kenny said reservations started dropping earlier this year --
\nby about 30 percent in the first three months -- because many
\ntourists were worried about the stability ahead of the election.<\/p>\n
The media has reported riots and clashes over election issues
\nin several parts of Indonesia, particularly in Central and East
\nJava.<\/p>\n
Hotel Indonesia's public relations manager, Henny Puspitasari,
\npredicted the occupancy rate of the 580-room hotel was likely to
\ndrop from 80 percent to 50 percent in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Hilton International's Ria Leimena said the occupancy
\nrate of the 1,104-room hotel would fall from 75 percent to 60
\npercent.<\/p>\n
Regent Jakarta Hotel's Hana Hoed said the 369-room hotel's
\noccupancy rate might fall from 75 percent to 65 percent next week
\nand to 60 percent in May.<\/p>\n
Kenny, Ria and Hana said the drop in occupancy rates were in
\nline with the absence of conference activities at their five-star
\nhotels.<\/p>\n
But they were optimistic occupancy rates would recover by mid-
\nJune.<\/p>\n
The minister of tourism, post and telecommunications, Joop
\nAve, said national stability was the most important thing for
\ntourism everywhere.<\/p>\n
But he said the riots that recently rocked towns in Central
\nand East Java would not affect Indonesia's tourism.<\/p>\n
Analysts said violence might still occur until the general
\nelections next month.<\/p>\n
\"I think that this also relates with the media reports which
\nexaggerated the riots. I don't blame the media as they have to
\nreport what really happens, but it must be balanced,\" Joop said
\nafter speaking at the ASEAN-Indian Ocean rim Business Forum held
\nat the Jakarta Convention Center.<\/p>\n
Joop said the 66.8 percent drop in foreign arrivals in
\nFebruary through Entikong, the Indonesia-Malaysia border crossing
\nin West Kalimantan, was meaningless.<\/p>\n
\"It's just small number of the total tourist arrivals for the
\nwhole country.\"<\/p>\n
Foreign tourists to Indonesia rose 3.4 percent to 315,407 in
\nFebruary from the same period last year. (13\/icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/general-election-affects-hotel-accupancy-rates-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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